Muppet memorabilia set to soar in popularity following film release

Jim Henson collectibles could rise in price when The Muppets is released in November

With a new film set for release later in the year, it is an exciting time for Muppets fans.

Jim Henson, who first created Kermit the Frog and friends in 1955, died today in 1990, but his legacy continues to survive as new generations of fans become enthralled by Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster et al.

Jim Hensons Kermit sketch made $906 at auction in 2002

Memorabilia associated with Henson and his creations is also beginning to find popularity among investors.

A signed colour sketch of Kermit the Frog by Henson sold for $906 at Heritage Auctions in 2002, while a poster for 1984 film The Muppets Take Manhattan, signed by Henson and puppeteer Frank Oz, made $358 in 2005.

The new film, which has a November 2011 release date, could well spark a surge of interest in Muppets memorabilia to rival that of Matt Groening's The Simpsons, whose items always command attention at auctions and private sales.